Ellen Tittel
German middle-distance runner (1948–2023)
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Ellen Tittel (later Wellmann, later Wessinghage; 28 June 1948 – 7 October 2023) was a West German middle-distance runner who specialized in the 1500 m event. She won the European indoor title in 1973, placing third in 1975, and had another third-place finish at the 1971 European Outdoor Championships. She reached the 1500 m finals at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics, but abandoned the 1972 race due to stomach cramps.[4] In 1971 she helped to set a new world record in the 4 × 800 m relay.[1]
![]() Tittel at the 1972 Olympics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born | 28 June 1948 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 7 October 2023 (aged 75) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 44 kg (97 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Athletics | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 800 m, 1500 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club | Bayer Leverkusen | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coached by | Gerd Osenberg[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal best(s) | 800 m – 2:03.1 (1971) 1500 m – 4:06.65 (1972)[2][3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Domestically Tittel set a national record in 1969 and won the national title in 1970–76. In 1975 she was chosen the West German Sportspersonality of the Year.[1]
Tittel won the British WAAA Championships title in the 1500 metres event at the 1972 WAAA Championships.[5][6][7]
Tittel was a lawyer by profession.[1] Before turning to athletics she tried gymnastics, but found it too boring.[4] She married two fellow Olympic middle-distance runners, first Paul-Heinz Wellmann,[1] and a few years later Thomas Wessinghage.[2] With Wessinghage she had a son Daniel.[4] She died on 7 October 2023, at the age of 75.[8]
